Now Reading: Apple may expand India manufacturing to MacBooks, iPads: Vaishnaw
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Apple may expand India manufacturing to MacBooks, iPads: Vaishnaw
Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has indicated that Apple could widen its manufacturing footprint in India beyond iPhones to include MacBooks and iPads. Replying to a question at the launch…
Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has indicated that Apple could widen its manufacturing footprint in India beyond iPhones to include MacBooks and iPads. Replying to a question at the launch of the Rs 62,500-crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS), Vaishnaw said "yes" when asked if the company would produce those devices locally.
The MPMS, running from FY2026-27 to FY2030-31, aims to boost domestic value addition, product design and R&D. It offers Indian brands a base incentive of 5%, an extra 1.5% for sourcing key components domestically, and an additional 3% for products developed through domestic design and R&D. Vaishnaw said three Indian companies could emerge as potential smartphone players in the next 10 to 14 months, with the government evaluating their IP and product quality before deciding support.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The government's push beyond iPhone assembly signals a bid to capture more of the electronics supply chain, where India currently accounts for less than 3% of global production. The MPMS's R&D-linked incentives are a departure from earlier production-linked schemes that focused purely on output volume. With Foxconn and Tata Electronics already ramping iPhone assembly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, adding MacBook and iPad lines would require significant investment in precision tooling and component ecosystems. The success of the three identified domestic smartphone brands will depend on their ability to match Chinese rivals on cost and features. Watch for the first design submissions under the scheme by mid-2026.
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
